Wednesday, June 10, 2026

5:00 – 6:00 pm
New Attendee Meetup
Join us for a quick drink, a warm welcome, and conversation with colleagues before you explore Santa Fe and begin the conference the following day.

Day 1 - Thursday, June 11, 2026
 

7:30 – 8:00 am
Registration and Breakfast (registered attendees only)

8:00 – 8:10 am
Joint Retreat Welcome & Opening Remarks
Extended by Dan Sweetser, Esq., CBA-CLE, Kristin Dittus, JD, LLM, Life & Legacy Planning, Ltd., Kelianne Chamberlain, Esq., Hoskin Farina & Kampf, PC., and Chelsea Ziegler, Esq., Ragab Law Firm, P.C., Conference Convergence Program Chairs

8:10 – 9:10 am
Guardianship and Conservatorship Across State Lines: A Comparative Look at Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico
Attorneys will discuss the procedural and substantive requirements for guardianship and conservatorship proceedings under Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico law, including jurisdiction, venue, and interstate transfers. The presentation will highlight state-specific requirements such as mandatory evaluations, notice and reporting obligations, bond and training requirements, and the evidentiary standards for establishing incapacity. Emphasis will also be placed on the least restrictive alternative, supported decision-making, and recent legislative developments designed to protect the rights of alleged incapacitated people. 
Panelists:
Terry Hamond, Esq., Terry W. Hammond & Associates, PLLC 
Bridget Mullins, Esq., Horton Mullins PC
Bruce Puma, Esq., Albuquerque Legal & Fiduciary
Salim Shleef, Esq., Becker & House, PLLC

9:10 am – 10:10 am
The Ripple Effect of Special Needs Trust Drafting: Protecting Benefits, Not Disrupting Them
Being able to identify when a Special Needs Trust should be used can be invaluable to a client. Drafted properly, an SNT preserves assets that meaningfully enhance a beneficiary’s quality of life without disrupting eligibility for public benefits—but the outcome can turn on a single word, such as “shall,” in a distribution provision. This session examines drafting decisions that create protection and flexibility while flagging clauses that may lie dormant for years before triggering loss of benefits, repayment claims, and significant administrative complications.
Presented by Shauna Clemmer, Esq., The Law Office of Brown & Brown, P.C.

10:10 – 10:30 am
Networking Break 
Please visit your sponsors!

10:30 – 11:30 am
One Big Beautiful Bill Act and Federal Medicaid Waivers
An overview of federal Medicaid waivers, including Section 1115, 1915(b), and 1915(c) waivers. Attendees will explore the legal framework enabling states to modify standard Medicaid rules to test innovative care delivery, provide benefits and services not typically covered, manage costs, or expand access to targeted populations. Topics will include the statutory authority behind waivers, policy considerations, federal oversight, litigation, and enrollee rights under waiver programs.
Presented by Kandace Rudd, JD, MSW, Waldoch & McConnaughhay, P.A.

11:30 am – 12:30 pm
AI Scams and Elder Exploitation
Presented by To Be Announced

12:30 pm
Adjourn

1:30 – 3:30 pm 
Optional Event: Walk and Learn with a Guided Walking Tour of Downtown Santa Fe
Peter Sinclaire, an expert tour guide who has been walking the streets of Santa Fe for 34 years, will lead the group. Peter teaches history and leads field trips for Santa Fe Community College. He also has been a volunteer docent at the New Mexico History Museum for over 25 years! Walk through downtown Santa Fe and learn about the art, history, culture, and architecture in this historic city. The tour will also cover topics that interest the participants from Native American history, to tales about ghosts, spies, and the Wild West.  Get ready to ask all the questions about Santa Fe and New Mexico that you have always wanted to know!
Location: Tour departs from and returns to the Eldorado Hotel – although participants will have the option to stay and explore the Plaza.
Cost: $25.00 per person (available to attendees and guests)
Deadline: May 21, 2026 – limited space on tour. Sign up when you complete your program registration.

4:00 – 4:10 pm
Welcome Back Remarks 
Extended by Dan Sweetser, Esq., CBA-CLE, Kristin Dittus, JD, LLM, Life & Legacy Planning, Ltd., Estate Planning Retreat Program Chair, and Kelianne Chamberlain, Esq., Hoskin Farina & Kampf, PC., Estate Planning Retreat Program Co-Chair

4:10 – 5:10 pm
The Two Certainties in Life are Death and Taxes: Demystifying the Myth that You Can Do Estate Planning Without Understanding Tax Considerations and Consequences
The need for complex estate tax planning has decreased with the increased estate, gift and generation-skipping tax exemptions. However, an estate plan should also take into consideration income tax implications. Nicole and Christine will cover basic income tax considerations when crafting an estate plan and their effect in the estate and trust administration process post death.
Presented by Nicole Economy Brown, Esq., Brown Law Firm, LLC, and Christine Stroup, Esq., Brown Law Firm, LLC

5:10 pm
Adjourn

5:10 – 6:40 pm
Conference Convergence Welcome Reception  
Sponsored by Midwest Trust

6:40 – 7:10 pm
Group Salsa Dancing Lesson with CBA-CLE’s Megan Rippentrop
No partner, no problem!

Day 2 – Friday, June 12, 2026
 

7:30 – 8:00 am
Breakfast (for registered attendees only)

8:00 – 9:00 am
Practical Pointers for Every Engagement: Starting the Representation with a Solid Foundation 
This session reviews best practices for drafting effective engagement letters, with a focus on clearly identifying the client, defining the scope of representation, and addressing ethical issues that can arise when multiple parties attend client meetings or when representing more than one generation within a family. The program will explore how engagement letters should address the modern practice of law, including the use of cloud-based services and information storage by a law firm. We will also examine CRS § 6-1-737 on the “requirement to disclose certain pricing information,” effective January 1, 2026, and its implications for attorney engagement letters.
Presented by Kristin Dittus, JD, LLM, Life & Legacy Planning, Ltd., Estate Planning Program Chair, and Kelianne Chamberlain, Esq., Hoskin Farina & Kampf, PC., Estate Planning Program Co-Chair
Submitted for 1.2 Ethics Credit

9:00 – 9:10 am
Transition to Breakout Sessions

9:10 – 10:10 am
Breakout Sessions - Choose (A) or (B)

BREAKOUT SESSION (A)
Show Me the Money - The Surprising Complexity of a Cash Bequest
Clients love cash bequests. But cash gifts raise unexpected legal issues under Colorado’s probate and trust codes.  Important income tax questions also exist regarding exclusion, interest accruals, and payor deductibility. This session will review the embedded legal questions and the tools and techniques that can be used to help clients navigate through the surprising complexity of cash gifts.
Presented by James (Jim) Walker, J.D., LL.M., Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP

BREAKOUT SESSION (B) 
Breaking Down Silos: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Drafting and Administering Trusts for Vulnerable Beneficiaries
Drafting for a beneficiary who has a history of substance abuse, addiction, mental illness, or intellectual disability can be a daunting task. Learn from a drafting attorney, a professional fiduciary, and a professional guardian/care manager on the best practices for drafting, interacting with, and caring for this beneficiary who will need additional support. After this session, you will be able to better advise your clients on practical options available to their loved ones and apply best practices in drafting to effectuate the client’s intentions and to support the fiduciaries involved.
Presented by Marianne Luu-Chen, Esq., Hutchinson Black & Cook LLC; Karen Miller, Baysore & Christian Fiduciary Services, LLC; and Naomi Richards, LCSW, NCG, ELDEResources LLC

10:10 – 10:30 am
Networking Break
Please visit your sponsors!

10:30 – 11:30 am
Breakout Sessions – Choose (C) or (D)

BREAKOUT SESSION (C) 
Planning for the Unpredictable: A Piquant Panoply of Powers of Appointment
This program is intended to offer a thoroughgoing introduction to powers of appointment.  The session reviews the basic types of powers, how they are structured and exercised, tax consequences of powers, uses of powers, and their pitfalls. We will review these issues through hypotheticals and client examples. 
Presented by Curtis Bankers, Esq., Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, and Christopher Cole, Esq., Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

BREAKOUT SESSION (D) 
End-of-Life Planning – The Final To-Do List
Ask anyone whether they want their life extended beyond their mental capacity or terminal illness and most would say “no.” But the law supporting that wish can be murky, often promising much more than it can deliver. This program examines the end-of-life planning methods that are reliable, from both the estate planning and enforceability perspectives, highlighting and narrowing the gap between client intent and real-world outcomes. Applying Colorado law and a case study involving very unconventional end-of-life and disposition wishes, the presentation explores the limits of common planning tools such as living wills, last remains directives, and Medical Aid in Dying. The session concludes with a review of national and international trends in the field and practical guidance on counseling clients about end-of-life decision-making, managing expectations and improving the likelihood that their wishes will be respected when it matters most.
Presented by Norvell (Norv) Brasch, Esq., Wade Ash LLC, and Hayley Lambourn, Esq., Wade Ash LLC

11:30 – 11:40 am
Transition to Breakout Session

11:40 am - 12:40 pm
Breakout Sessions - Choose (E) or (F)

BREAKOUT SESSION (E) 
Integrating Technology into Your Estate Planning Practice — Practical Tips for a Modern Law Office
In this presentation, we will explore how estate planning attorneys can strategically leverage technology to streamline operations and elevate client service. We’ll showcase specific tools and tech solutions that can be integrated into key stages of estate planning practice, including client intake and onboarding, document automation, client communication, workflow and practice management, and data management and cybersecurity. We’ll also address the ethical implications and professional responsibilities that come with adopting new technologies. Finally, we’ll conclude with a practical implementation roadmap to help you effectively incorporate technology into your practice.
Presented by Colleen Scarola, Esq., Scarola Law, LLC, and Rachel Bernstein Sheikh, Esq., RBS Law, LLC
Submitted for .3 Ethics Credit

BREAKOUT SESSION (F) 
Estate Challenges Unique to the “Grey Divorce” (aka Divorcing Later in Life) 
Presented by Kate Lewis, Esq., Cage Lewis Weiman, LLC and Michelle Mieras, J.D., LL.M., CTFA, CDFA®, BMO Wealth Management – U.S.

12:40 – 2:10 pm
Lunch (on your own)

2:10 – 3:00 pm
The Office of the Public Administrators of Colorado
The objective of this course is to educate attorneys on when and how to work with public administrators in Colorado, including their suggestions for administration practices in their respective Judicial Districts.  
Panelists:
Stephanie Brennan, Esq., 20th Judicial District of Colorado Public Administrator
Marco Chayet, Esq., 18th Judicial District of Colorado Public Administrator
Charles (Chuck) Reams, Esq., 21st Judicial District of Colorado Public Administrator

3:00 – 3:20 pm
Networking Break 
Please visit your sponsors!

3:20 – 4:10 pm
Estate Planning Document Disputes and Determining Capacity
The presentation will give a broad strokes overview of professional evaluations in guardianship/conservatorship proceedings from both the evaluator and litigator standpoints. Dr. Greenstein, as an experienced geriatrics psychiatrist, will offer incredible insight into the evaluation process while Tom and Casey will provide the litigator’s perspective on the nuances of said evaluations in contested cases.
Presented by Casey Brees, Esq., Lathrop GPM LLP, Aaron Greenstein, MD, Geriatic Mental Health LLC, and Tom Rodriguez, Esq., Lathrop GPM LLP

4:10 – 5:00 pm
Colorado’s Compensation and Cost Recovery Act – Fifteen Years Later
The presentation will provide a basic review of the statute, focusing on embedded procedures that shaped stakeholder expectations regarding its functionality. Panelists will also discuss bench and bar perspectives as to the Act’s practical ability to streamline fee disputes and potential improvements to the current framework. 
Panelists:
Kristine (Kris) Callahan, Esq., Callahan Law 
Nancy (Susie) Germany, Esq., Germany Law Firm, P.C.
Bradley Ginnett, Esq., The Gasper Law Group, PLLC
Moderated by Catherine Seal, JD, LLM, CELA, The Gasper Law Group, PLLC

5:00 pm
Adjourn

5:00 – 6:30 pm
Conference Convergence Reception
Sponsored by Chayet & Danzo, LLC

Day 3 - Saturday, June 13, 2026
 

7:30 – 8:00 am
Breakfast (registered attendees only)

8:00 – 8:15 am
Welcome Back and 2026 Award Announcements
-    Presentation of John J. Campbell Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Practice of Elder Law in Colorado 
-    Announcement of the R. Sterling Ambler Award Recipient
Extended by Dan Sweetser, Esq., CBA-CLE, Tammy Conover, Esq., Conover Law, LLC, Nancy (Susie) Germany, Esq., Germany Law Firm, P.C., and Kristin Dittus, JD, LLM, Life & Legacy Planning, Ltd., Estate Planning Retreat Program Chair

8:15 – 9:05 am
Probate and Elder Law Case Law Update
Presented by Scott Challinor, Esq., Coan, Payton & Payne, LLC

9:05 – 9:25 am
Networking Break 
Please visit your sponsors!

9:25 – 10:25 am
What If Granny Wants to Gamble? Older Clients with Diminishing Capacity and Elder Financial Abuse
The nest eggs of America’s retirees are in the crosshairs of scammers and fraudsters who target elders, particularly women, due to the frailties and vulnerabilities that often accompany aging. As estate planners, we all will be called upon to help address the issues of those individuals whose capacity is diminishing. This session will help estate planners to recognize the most common causes and signs of diminishing capacity and will explore the ethical challenges that advisors and lawmakers face in protecting our vulnerable clients from exploitation without unnecessarily trampling on their rights to self-determination.
Presented by Prof. Emerita Mary Radford, Georgia State University College of Law
Submitted for 1.2 Ethics Credit

10:30 – 11:20 am
Working with Robots: AI, LLMs, and the Future of the Legal Profession
This program examines how artificial intelligence and large language models are reshaping legal practice and what that means for lawyers’ ethical duties. Using real-world examples from Trust and Estate and Elder Law practice, we will explore practical safeguards for integrating AI into client work without compromising competence, confidentiality, independent professional judgment, or proper supervision under the Rules of Professional Conduct. We will address the threshold question many lawyers are asking: whether to use tools such as ChatGPT and, if so, under what conditions and with what guardrails. The session will provide a framework for evaluating emerging legal technology, assessing vendor and data security risks, verifying outputs, and communicating appropriately with clients about the use of these tools. Special attention will be given to serving older and potentially vulnerable clients to ensure that innovation strengthens, rather than undermines, professional responsibility and client trust.
Presented by Keegan Drake, Esq., Drake Legal, PLLC, and Joel Hassell, JD, LLM, Clear Creek Law, PC 
Submitted for 1.0 Ethics Credit

11:30 am – 12:20 pm
Doing Well While Doing Good: Ethical and Inclusive Pro Bono
This presentation will provide tips on how to design pro bono legal clinics that are inclusive, accessible, and meet vulnerable clients where they are. The panel will discuss the barriers to solving the access to justice gap in our state and how lawyers engaged in pro bono help advance that goal.
Presented by Kristin Bronson, Esq., Colorado Lawyers Committee, and Christine Stroup, Esq., Brown Law Firm, LLC
Submitted for 1.0 EDI Credit

12:20 – 12:25 pm
Closing Remarks & Adjourn 
Extended by Kristin Dittus, JD, LLM, Life & Legacy Planning, Ltd., Estate Planning Retreat Program Chair and Chelsea Ziegler, Esq., Ragab Law Firm, P.C., Elder Law Retreat Program Chair

Location Information